Angels' Aybar working to make walks a part of his game

Shortstop Erick Aybar is trying to make a positive impact even when he's not swinging the bat. MORRY GASH, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ANGELS 3, ROYALS 2

The game: Mike Trout and Albert Pujols homered in the Angels' 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium. Trout's fourth homer, and second in as many days, carried about 430 feet to straightaway center. Pujols hit his first homer of the spring.

PITCHING REPORT: RHP Jered Weaver gave up two runs in 51/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out five. He threw 77 pitches. Weaver said his fastball command was the best it's been this spring. Weaver's next start, his last one before presumably starting on opening day, could be in a minor league game, so he can control the innings and ensure he's able to get up for seven innings. In minor league games, teams can simply end innings at a certain pitch count, regardless of the number of outs. ... LHP Nick Maronde retired two of the Royals' best left-handed hitters, Eric Hosmer and Alex Gordon. ... RHP Brandon Lyon worked a perfect ninth.

HITTING REPORT: DH Josh Hamilton went hitless in three at-bats in his third game of the spring. Hamilton is 2 for 9 since coming back from a strained calf. ... Trout and Collin Cowgill doubled in the third inning, but the Angels didn't score because Cowgill was doubled off second base when Aybar popped up a bunt attempt.

DEFENSE REPORT: 2B Howie Kendrick made a nice backhand stop going over the middle. ... CF Trout dove to catch a sinking liner. ... SS Aybar went over the middle to make a good pickup.

SURPRISE, Ariz. – In a spring training spent mostly marveling at Mike Trout or watching hopefully as Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton try to regain their form, it would be easy to overlook Erick Aybar.

Aybar has drawn eight walks in 43 plate appearances this spring, a walk rate that is more than three times his rate throughout his career. He walked just 23 times in 589 plate appearances last season.

Is this just a small-sample-size fluke, or a sign of a real change in approach?

In Jerry Dipoto’s opinion … both.

“I don’t think Erick is going to walk 100 times, but the fact is he’s focusing on putting together better at-bats, focusing on getting into better counts,” the Angels’ general manager said. “It’s a lot easier to hit in this league when you are getting into positive counts.”

Aybar is 30 and has been an everyday player for the past five seasons, so it would be unusual for a player at that stage in his career to make such a dramatic change.

However, Dipoto said he believes Aybar has consciously tried something new, and Aybar said as much earlier in the spring.

“Time, maturity and Don Baylor,” Dipoto said, referring to the Angels’ new hitting coach. “Erick is a good player. He’s been in the league a while now. He understands the things he does well. He understands the things he needs to improve on. This spring in particular he’s focused on some of the things he can do better.”

Manager Mike Scioscia had Aybar in the leadoff spot for Thursday’s game against the Royals. Scioscia said it was because he wanted Aybar to get as many right-handed swings as possible against left-hander Bruce Chen, not because he considers Aybar a candidate to lead off regularly.

DE LA ROSA UPDATE

Dane De La Rosa said he’s scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday, which will mark his first time on the mound after missing nine days with a strained forearm.

De La Rosa said he thinks he only needs one outing in a game to be ready for the season, so it’s still possiblehe could be ready by the March 31 opener.

“It should be pretty quick,” De La Rosa said.

NOTES

Hamilton hit fifth against Chen, which is how Scioscia plans to pencil in his lineup against lefties during the season. David Freese moved up to the cleanup spot. Hamilton hit .201 against lefties and .272 against righties in 2013. For his career, though, the split isn’t as dramatic: .307 and .267. …

Hector Santiago was sporting a Ducks jersey with his name and No. 53 on it. The Ducks sent the jersey to Santiago. He’s not sure why they picked him, but he said he is a hockey fan. Santiago grew up going to New Jersey Devils games, and he attended several Chicago Blackhawks games last year while he pitched for the White Sox.

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